Easter Pics

Saturday - while Mommy was relaxing by herself - Daddy took you and Carter to HopEast, sponsored by a local church where a lot of your friends go. Ya'll had a great time - getting your face painted, seeing the Easter Bunny, Egg hunting, and even playing some egg games.

Sunday - We spent the day relaxing and hanging out outside while Daddy finished the monkey bars - which you love - by the way! It rained a little and you had Girlscouts in the afternoon. We decided to save the cascarones until we can hang with friends maybe later this week or weekend. :)

Easter basket included -
Sidewalk chalk
Gummies
Jelly belly beans
Sophia the 1st Kite
Bubbles
- All eggs includes jelly beans only, which you and Carter, were both a bit disappointed by

After Easter Mass pictures -

Taken by Carter -

Easter Egg Hunting -

Happy Easter!

Spring Break 2016: San Diego Round 2

It looks like you are having a blast in San Diego this week with Emmy, Poppy, Aunt Suz, Uncle Lenny, and Jules -

I think so far- your favorite part has been the shopping trip M must have taken you on with Jules. Every picture seen so far - you are wearing something new and usually in a matching outfit with Jules....to cute. :)

Day 1- Lego Land

Day 2- The Beach

Day 3- Jules' 2nd Birthday!

Day 4- Pedicuare, Carousel, & Bike Riding at the Beach

Day 5- Children's Discovery Museum, Carousel again

Day 6 - Children's Museum - the staff gave you a special secret mission/scavenger hunt

Day 7 - Headed to the airport via downtown trolley/bus

Others -
Playing with Poppy -

New Outfit# 568?

Sleepovers with Jules -

Fun Run - 1st grade

Even though - you had some anxiety earlier in the week, it sounds like the 1st grade Fun Run went much better!

On Tuesday, you asked that email Coach Schumacher and Ms. Young -

Coach Schumacher &  Ms. Young -

Just an fyi - (I told Maevy I would write you both).Maevy is very worried/stressed about the fun run.

Last year she had cramps and ended the run in tears. She's clearly not my athletically inclined child.I think she's just worried - the same thing will happen this year.

I just told her I would let you all know and at the very least maybe suggest some strategies or ways to prevent cramping, pain, etc..Of course she's trying to get out of it, but I said no. Ryan and I are going to try to be there for support. I reassured her - that she will be fine.Thanks for listening. :)

Response from Coach Schumacher -

Mrs. Taylor, I'm sorry to hear about Maevy's anxiety over the Fun Run.

The idea is to keep it fun while participating in a healthy activity. It might help to remind Maevy that in PE class we've been practicing the Fun Run experience since September.  We started with a 4 minute Fun Run and have added 1 minute each month.

Last month we completed a 9 minute Fun Run (only 1 less minute than Thursday's event) where Maevy ran 26 laps, nearly 3/4 of a mile in the gym.  I know being outside on the track with people cheering does change the mental feeling of the Fun Run but I'm 100% positive she will do fantastic. If she starts to experience any cramping it's absolutely fine, event encouraged, to slow down and relax. I'll have Mrs. Young's class for PE tomorrow so I will address these points to the entire class and, weather permitting, practice our jogging pace around the track.

Hope this helps, Stephen Schumacher

M, Pop, and Daddy were able to be there to cheer you on. According Daddy, you did great. No tears and you ran 6 laps. Great work! We're both so proud of you!

Plus I love the combination of your pigtails and Star Wars t-shirt. (Every time LDC sells t-shirts, you never want one. Therefore you always have to wing it when you're allowed to wear a t-shirt.)

Your Hero

One of my favorite writings of yours so far...

7th Birthday Party!

It's birthday party time! Seriously for about 6 months, you had been coming up with birthday party ideas. At one point, you wanted to do a sleep-over, but I said then you could only invite 2 or 3 people. Finally - you settled on a Baking-themed Party and you invited 6 friends. 

Party attendees: Margot, Millie, Lois, Brynn, Laoise, Tate, Grandma & Grandpa

Here are all of our activities -

1. Decorate hat and apron with fabric pens

2. Cooking Class 1 - Pizzas

3. Cooking Class 2 - Cupcakes
 

4. Lunch/ Taste & Smell Test

5. Decorate Cupcakes

It was jam-packed 2 hours and we created the biggest mess in the kitchen. But I think everyone had fun, and it was nice that we did it Sunday, right after church - so we had the afternoon hang out and chill out. Of course - we totally didn't grab 1 picture of you with us or with Grandma & Grandpa. They were there - I promise!

I found a picture with Grandma in it! -

Hope you had a great birthday party!

Love you!

7th Birthday!

You woke up crazy excited, maybe even more so because your birthday was on a Friday. Mommy actually led your book club today, and Daddy met us for lunch at your school. 

Meal plan for the birthday girl - 

Breakfast - bowl of cereal, waffle

We made mini chocolate chip muffins again to share with the class. 

Lunch - sack lunch with nutella sandwich, strawberries, celery, chocolate pudding, and strawberry yogurt

Dinner - out at Five Points Pizza, Jeni's ice cream for dessert

Presents from family - 

From Mom and Dad - A to Z Mysteries (complete set), (2) Baking themed books, (1) Cookbook

From Grandma &Grandpa - Calendar Mysteries, Creator Series lego set, and Betty Crocker cookbook

From Aunt Robyn & Uncle Jake - Gift Card to Climb Nashville

From M & Pop - Skip Bo & Phase 10

From Aunt Suz & Uncle Lenny - Idiom Dictionary

From Aunt Lesley & Uncle Z - Cash-o-la

Here's your annual update - 

Things you love:

1. TV & Movies - Yes - still love this. You're currently into beauty or toy related kid you tube videos, Odd Squad, Sofia the First, and really any movie.

2. Singing & Dancing - Yes - still love this. Still into Taylor Swift, but also a couple Little Big Town songs and Kids Bop!

3. Plays, Musicals, Museums - Yes - still love this. Daddy is currently obsessed with the musical, Hamilton and lets you listen to the kid-appropriate songs and has been teaching you about Alexander Hamilton. We really loved Charlotte's Web this year at NCT.

4. Piano- Piano is still going well. You and a new friend, Daphne, at school have a plan to play Jolly Old St. Nicholas on piano and violin for next year's talent show. We'll see...

5. New this year - Legos - You have a major goal on your chore chart to get enough money to buy another Disney princess set. I think you have Rapunzel, Frozen, and maybe another one. You're goal is to have enough  to then set them up like a little town. You love following the booklet and don't like straying from the plan. 

6. New this year - Scooters - You and Carter have both been loving your scooters you got for Christmas. Still no progress on the bike, but I'm glad we've found something that gets you up moving and out of the house. 

Things you are good at:
1. Reading - Yes, of course. You're still way above grade level, and just finished your marathon reading-a-thon where you read for 1-2 hours each night, and were really bummed that your class missed the frozen yogurt party by only 30 minutes! And just this last weekend, you barely said 2 words to your hairdresser because you had your nose stuck in a book.

2. Puzzles & Games- Currently your favorites are: Spot It, Robot Turtle, Uno, Clap, Ring It, and Skip Bo.

3. Writing - Yes, very! I think your favorite Savy classes has been figurative language and short stories. I also think you really enjoyed when your class was studying poems.

4. Climbing - Yes, very! You still don't want to go to class or camp at Climb Nashville, but you're still a great climber. We always get compliments when we are there from other impressed parents.

5. Sleep - Yes, of course. My favorite recent picture of you...is of course you sleeping while holding up a book.

Goals this Year - 
1. Try new foods, especially fruits and vegetables. I've already given you the challenge of adding a vegetable to your lunch.
2. Learn to ride a bike.
3. Break out of our comfort zone when it comes to meeting new friends. I think this might happen this summer during a camp - where you wont't be attending with a friend. :)

This last year has not been the easiest with Daddy's travel schedule and the news that you're going to be a big sister again, but you've really been great at being both a good helper and listening to me. Lots of school nights - you are left to knock out piano, homework, reading, making your lunch, and getting your clothes ready for school all on your own while I put Carter to bed, and you usually do a great job - while also getting distracted a little bit along the way. I love how independent you are becoming, but still love some quality time with Mom and Dad, especially if it involves ice cream. :)

Next up...a fun-filled baking party!

Love you- 

Mommy